Our History

First Baptist Church, Frederick, Maryland
Since 1905

Notes written by our first pastor, Rev. William Hammond Parker on September 24, 1905.

“At date of writing, the city of Frederick has a population est. at 10,500 The organization of this church is the direct result of the able and devoted efforts of Rev. E.B. Hatcher, D.D. Superintendent of State Missions of Maryland. Dr. Hatcher realized early in his work in Maryland that there was need of a Baptist church in Frederick, and at once made the question of its establishment a matter of much prayer, thought and agitation. In the spring of 1904, he secured the services of Rev. Wm. Hammond, of East New Market, Maryland, as State Missionary. Together with him, Dr. Hatcher held a series of special meetings in the Junior Fire Hall during the month of April, 1904. At the close of these meetings, the W.C.T.U. Hall was rented, a Sunday School organized and regular Sabbath evening services were instituted. These were continued with good results until February 1905, when Rev. S.L. Fraser of Hagerstown, Maryland, conducted a series of special meetings held in the church building of the Southern Methodist Church.”

“Following these, on February 9, 1905, a church was organized with the following members: Rev. and Mrs. William Hammond Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Singleton T. Stull, Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Grubbs, Miss Nena M. Derr, Mrs. Anna E. Bitzer, Mrs. Nettie Notnagle, Mrs. W.H. Steinhaus, Dr. James M. Goodman, Mr. Melvin E. Watkins, and Mr. W. Stanley Schwartz.”

“The need now began to be felt for a suitable building in which to worship. Application was made to the Church Extension Society. As a result of this, an appropriation of $3,500 was made. Work was commenced on this structure in the early part of September, 1905. A lot had been previously purchased from Mrs. S.T. Stull for the sum of $600 (with Mr. Stull donating $300 toward the $600 cost.)”

“The church now has a membership of 25. The Sunday School was organized with 9 pupils and now has an enrollment of 108. At the laying of this cornerstone, this 24th day of September, 1905, a sermon was preached by Rev. S.L. Fraser, Pastor of First Church, Hagerstown, and Rev. E.B. Hatcher made an address and officiated at the laying of the cornerstone. Written by William Hammond Parker, 12:45 P.M., September 24, 1905.” (The above is excerpted from the handwritten notes of Rev. Parker that were found in the cornerstone of the first church building.) Rev. Parker ended his relation with our church on November 31, 1907.

The second pastor was F.W. Putney, who came March 1, 1908. He married soon after coming to Frederick and served as pastor for one year.

On April 25, 1909, the Reverend Alonzo D. Winters became our third pastor. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry on October 26, 1909. After a fruitful pastorate, he left March 1913.

The Rev. B.A. Bowers came in September, 1914. During his pastorate two additional rooms were built to the parsonage. A modern heating plant was installed in the church and parsonage. More than 100 members were received into the church. On April 30, 1916, Mr. Bowers left to pastor First Church, Baltimore.

The Rev. William Carson Royal was called as pastor effective August 15, 1916. During his first two years a floating indebtedness of $650 and a mortgage of $3,500 were paid. A class room was added to the church at this time. The church had a graded Sunday School, Woman’s Missionary Society, Ladies Aid Society, Sunbeam Band, Royal Ambassador Chapter, Young Ladies Auxiliary, Junior Aid and Senior Young People’s Societies. In the 36 years of Mr. Royal’s pastorate the membership grew and strengthened. A large new educational building and church auditorium were built and dedicated in 1922 at a cost of $110,000. Mr. Royal initiated the Maryland Baptist Summer Assembly in 1917. The assembly was held first in Braddock Heights and later on the campus of Hood College. For most of its years the Annual Sermon was preached at our church during Sunday worship.

The Rev. Robert F. Woodward came in September 1, 1952. To accommodate the increased Sunday School attendance, the church voted on July 17, 1955, to secure a new parsonage and use 219 Dill as a Children’s Building. This change was made at a cost of $30,000.

In 1959 we continued our expansion of Sunday School space with the purchase of 213 Dill Avenue from Lloyd C. Culler for $15,000. In this same year a mission was started in the South End Civic Association building. Our pastor, Mr. Woodward preached at both the FBC and South End services every Sunday until the Rev. J.Thomas Shriner was called in December 1959. FBC gave an equipped parsonage to the church at a cost of $15,000. Over fifty members from FBC served as leaders and teachers in the new church.

In 1961 the property at 220 W. Fifth Street was purchased for $22,000 to be used as a parking lot and a staff residence. Also in 1961, Mr. John M. Grove offered to sell his property at 215 Dill, which was purchased for $18,000 over the period of two years. In 1962, 211 Dill was purchased for $15,000. With this last parcel of adjacent property, plans were begun for a new educational building to accommodate the growing Sunday School and Training Union activities.

In 1962 ministry to the deaf began with Mr. Frank Bryan acting as interpreter. In 1963 our church sponsored a Cuban refugee family.

The new educational building was completed in the spring of 1967 and the older educational unit was remodeled. The entire project including land, building and remodeling cost in excess of $400,000.

In 1968 the Frederick County Day Care Center, managed by Frederick County Social Services, was established in the lower level of the new educational building.

In 1974 Robert F. Woodward resigned to accept a call to First Baptist Church of Winchester, Virginia.

On October 6, 1974, the Reverend Burnis D. Barrett assumed his duties as pastor.

In the late 70’s FBC contributed with others to establish the Columbia Baptist Fellowship which still meets today.

During a time of vast differences in thinking in the Southern Baptist Convention, Mr. Barrett was unanimously elected president to the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, as a moderate and reconciling voice. He led FBC to affiliate with both SBC and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

During the 80’s a Korean Church began meeting in our building for Sunday worship. In 1985 FBC became one of the sponsoring churches for the Thurmont Mission. A debt of $89,000 was forgiven in 1989. The Thurmont Church was constituted in 1992 and continues as First Baptist Church of Thurmont.

In 1994 Burnis Barrett retired as pastor. He continued to serve as our Pastor Emeritus until he went to be with the Lord and his beloved wife, Clotene, on Sunday, February 27, 2022.

On June 25, 1995, Dr. Larry L. Eubanks was called to FBC. After 27 and a half years of service, Dr. Eubanks retired on December 31, 2022.

On January 14, 2024, Pastor Duke Jeffries began serving as our Intentional Interim Pastor.

Our present Vision Statement developed by the Vision Committee was adopted in 1996.

In January 1999 church planters, Bill and Jill Craig, came to begin what is now Summit Trace Church. FBC was its parent church and supported it with our finances, facilities and many of our members serving as leaders and teachers.

In October 1999 a contemporary service began at 10:00 a.m.

After a detailed feasibility study concerning the upgrading of our facilities at our present location, the church voted in June 1998 to purchase property on Bowers Road at a cost of $700,000. This note was paid in October 2002. We had our first service in the newly completed church building on Sunday, January 20, 2008.

2020 was the year of the global pandemic (COVID-19). We had our last normal Sunday on March 15 due to closure orders from the governor. Sermons were presented online and some Sunday school classes continued to meet on computers and other online devices via a technology known as Zoom. The church doors opened for two services on May 31 at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Due to low attendance, the decision was made to have a combined service at 10:00 AM starting on June 7. Temperatures were taken in the lobby and chairs “socially distanced” in the sanctuary. Masks were required to be worn. Hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes were in the lobby and hugs and handshakes were replaced by elbow bumps. An average of 40 people physically attended church each Sunday and our congregation continued to faithfully support our church financially. Sermons continued to be presented online for those who chose to stay at home. On July 31 the church was used by the U. S. Census Bureau to train enumerators for the 2020 Census. Finally, on February 27, 2022, masks were no longer required to be worn in church. 56 attended the 8:30 AM service.

We have been blessed with the talents of many professional ministerial staff to assist our pastors. Miss Jane Fout 1954-1956, Carlton E. Winters 1957-1962, Robert L. Sessoms 1964-1965, John Clough 1967-1970, Paul Bowen 1972-1976, William A. Kelley 1976 -1989, Byron Sherbenou 1976-1989, Michael Watterson 1989-1992, the Rev. James Wood 1990-1996, the Rev. Roger Weaver 1993-1997, the Rev. Duane Musgrove 1997-2003, the Rev. Shannon McWilliams 2003-2006, the Rev. Chip Handrich 2005-January 14, 2018, the Rev. Richard Krauss 1998-November 20, 2022, and Jim Dent February 28, 2018-March 20, 2022. Rev. Duane Musgrove returned as our interim worship leader on March 21, 2022 and served until May 22, 2022. On June 26, 2022, Moira O’Brien assumed the duties of Choir Director for our traditional service at 8:30 AM and served until February 14, 2023. Sungheui Bae-Park volunteered to lead the choir effective on February 15, 2023.

Previous Pastors